Product Description

Tom Van Flandern's book adds a new dimension to cosmology--not only does it present a novel approach to timeless issues, it stands up to the closest scientific scrutiny. Even the most respected scientists today will readily admit that the Big Bang Theory is full of holes. But it takes a new look, like Dark Matter, Missing Planets, and New Comets, to explain not only why the theory is wrong but what to substitute in its place. If you are curious about such things as the nature of matter and the origin of the solar system, but feel inadequately equipped to grasp what modern science has to say about such things, read this book. You will not get the all too common condescending attempt to water down the `mysteries' of modern science into a form intelligible to little non scientist you, but rather a straightforward new theory, logically derived in front of your eyes, which challenges the roots of many of today's complex accepted paradigms, yet whose essence is simple enough to be thoroughly communicated to the intelligent layman without "losing it in the translation."

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #411328 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-08
• Released on: 1999-01-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 552 pages

Review
"The overview of orbital dynamics is fascinating, detailing characteristics of orbits--many of which are non-intuitive. In particular the notion of 'spheres of influence' was very informative, serving as a foundation for discussions contained in alter chapters. Whether or not one agrees with Van Flandern's theories, this chapter provides an education all its own."
-The Mason-Dixon Astronomer

"Tom Van Flandern is both an insider and an outsider. A professional astronomer for twenty-five years, he is well versed in the customs of mainstream science. On the other hand, after a long review of the assumptions underlying a large portion of received truth in astronomy and cosmology, he has come to a radical conclusion: much currently accepted theory is wrong."
-Astronomy Books Club

Customer Reviews

Exciting conclusions, good writing, difficult to follow.
From the back cover:

"Tom Van Flandern is both an insider and an outsider. A professional astronomer for twenty-five years, he is well versed in the customs of mainstream science. On the other hand, after a long review of the assumptions underlying a large portion of received truth in astronomy and cosmology, he has come to a radical conclusion: much currently accepted theory is wrong..."

This is a hard book to read for the layman with little background in science, whether you have a good vocabulary or not; whether you are bright-normal, or not. It is difficult to read because it requires of you that you think while you are reading. It requires of you that you read the same passage over more than once, and then try to visualize what the author is saying. It requires of you that you use all of your intelligence, and then perhaps decide after struggling with the concept that you will go on and see what else he has to say, without fully grasping what he has just said.

The author is a very bright gentleman, that much is obvious. And, as far as I could follow him, I found his reasoning to be impeccable. And his results, his conclusions, I found to be exciting.

I hope he is right.

He questions Einstein, and uses Einstein's own theory to prove him in error, and he does it without depending upon arcane mathematical formulae. He uses plain language and diagrams that any bright layman, who reads carefully, can follow. But, I warn you, the territory into which you will be drawn is not for sissies.

He is saying that the Big Bang theory of the origin of the universe is nonsense.

He is saying that the speed of light is not the fastest thing around: That gravity makes it look like a slowpoke. That lightspeed is not the limiting speed.

He is saying that the universe is both infinitely old, and infinite in size. There is no end to it in space, and it had no beginning in time. It is neither expanding, nor is it due to collapse. Space and time are infinite, and there are only five dimensions with which we may measure: Three of space, one of time, and one of scale.

He is saying that there was once a planet, "Planet X," between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, which exploded and is now the source of the asteroid belt and of the comets that, from time to time, invade our solar system.

He is saying that space is filled, not only with a light carrying medium (shades of Ether!) but also with a smaller, faster, universal gravity medium (C-gravitons) which push the planets and their moons and stars together by bombarding them, rather than their being drawn together by some mysterious force, and he demonstrates it with deductive reasoning which is, to say the least, very persuasive.

If you have any curiosity about these things, this is the book for you. You will find it exciting and challenging. If, on the other hand, you are content to leave such esoteric matters up to those who are smarter and better qualified, and would rather play computer games with your spare time, join the multitude!

Let's have fun
Hard reading? Techno-babble? The people must have read the wrong book! Reader, don't be scared. If you are a devotee to the subject, this is the book for you. It is easy, straightforward reading, no math required. As for shaky philosophy, the author is faithfully reproducing Ernst Mach's propositions - and even a certain Einstein found his inspiration in Mach's lectures. Personally I have no bones to pick with what I read, but if I ever had the inclination of writing such a book, I certainly would leave out a few things.

Van Flanders has a lot to talk about: "Faster than light motion in time is possible / Gravitation progresses faster than light / the physical universe has five and only five dimensions / it is infinite in extent in all five dimensions / there was no Big bang to start the universe / the universe is not expanding / the universal microwave radiation is of nearby origin / there are no black holes in the universe / quasars are associated with our own and nearby galaxies / galaxies are arranged in waves in an immense medium /gravitational shielding is possible / the classical description of quantum entities is incorrect / the Bell inequality in quantum physics should be violated / There is no "Oort Cloud" of comets / comets and asteroids are quite similar in nature / comets and asteroids are accompanied by satellites / a former major planet exploded between Mars and Jupiter / this explosion occurred just 3 million years ago / this explosion was the origin of comets and asteroids / this explosion may be connected with the origin of man / the great pyramids in Egypt are perhaps 9000 years old / artificial structures may exist on the surface of Mars / tidal forces on the sun and giant planets are significant / there may be a sunspot-planet link / solar eclipses are best viewed away from the centre line / Mercury was originally a moon of Venus / our Moon originated from the Pacific basin of the Earth / the Moon no longer shows us the same face it used to / the Martian moons are the survivors of a great many moons/ a great rift on Mars is the impact site of a former moon / Jupiter's Red Spot is a floating impact remnanat / Saturn's rings are only a few million years old / Solar system bodies have received black carbon deposits / the moons of Neptune were violently disrupted / Pluto and Charon are escaped moons of Neptune / Another undiscovered planet probably exists beyond Pluto"

Not that I or anybody has to agree to all this, but Van Flanders propositions his hypothesis as a true scientist, he is not preaching gospel. He deserves a fair hearing. If I try to imagine how his own peers may view this rich enchilada - oh well, at present the author must be living in the remotest Siberia. It's not about being right or wrong, and the author may very well be more often right than wrong, but it doesn't add much credibility where it counts most for a man of his qualifications. One has to hand it to him, Van Flandern has courage!

But for us lay people and lesser mortals, this book is a fun ride, this much I can promise you.

One thing I know to be true is that Theory is not Reality
Van Flandern points out that Oort himself views the mechanism of the Oort Cloud to be highly dubious. VF points out numerous ways in which VF's theories can be disproven, and states his openness to being proved wrong if by doing so, more truth is uncovered. One of his recurring themes is that we should always be willing to re-examine, re-evaluate and rescind theories which do not accord with observations rather than the more typical approach of the mainstream which is to either throw out the aberrant observations or devise ever more twisted additions to the status quo to accomodate the data which doesn't fit.

Not just in Astronomy but in all things we should be open to new and challenging information, and willing to change our cherished beliefs if they are obviously at odds with reality.

The mainstream probably considers VF a wacko, but then again, that's what they thought of Galileo.